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Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Charitie Bancroft: Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God aboveI have a strong and perfect plea.A great high Priest whose Name is LoveWho ever lives and pleads for me.My name is graven on His hands,My name is written on His heart.I know that while in Heaven He standsNo tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despairAnd tells me of the guilt within,Upward I look and see Him thereWho made an end of all my sin.Because the sinless Savior diedMy sinful soul is counted free.For God the just is satisfiedTo look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,My perfect spotless righteousness,The great unchangeable I AM,The King of glory and of grace,One in Himself I cannot die.My soul is purchased by His blood,My life is hid with Christ on high,With Christ my Savior and my God!

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"[T]here are hymns that contain doctrinal insight to rival that of the best theology ever produced. The fact that they are falling out of the church's collective memory is something to be deeply regretted as it is one more facet of what at times seems to be a concerted effort to fail catechetically." - WTM

SONICFLOOd has done a new rendition of this hymn, which has helped it get some play back in churches and youth groups (and thankfully, they don't up the tempo). Also encouraging is David Crowder Band's promotion of old hymns. DCB is, by most accounts, the biggest CCM band today, and they always play a hymn or two at their shows as well as on each album. They've done some great covers of "Come Thou Fount," "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing," and "All Creatures of Our God and King." As well, Chris Tomlin did a decent rendition of "Amazing Grace" for the Amazing Grace soundtrack and his latest album. Also, Reformed University Fellowship (college ministry of the PCA) is well-known for doing modern (mostly acoustic and respectful) editions of hymns on their Indelible Grace albums.

So, there are some positive signs, WTM. Plus, there are some current CCM/P&W artists writing new songs which approach the quality and sincerity of the classic hymns (e.g., Jeremy Riddle, in addition to DCB and Tomlin). Otherwise, as you know, I completely agree with your assessment.

This song has spread worldwide, we sing this song as well at our church in Helsinki Vineyard in Finland. Such a great hymn with powerful lyrics. It was a tough call to translate it into the Finnish language but managed to do it with the grace of God.